Reception
In Antwerp, the expedition was heartily welcomed. A special committee had been planning the festivities for months. Typical for polar expeditions in this age, feelings of national (and regional) pride surrounded the homecoming celebrations. The Belgian state honored De Gerlache and his men by making them member of the Royal Order of Leopold, the municipal government of Antwerp honored the men by medals and writing their names in the Golden Book of the city. On the day they first set foot on Belgian soil again, the Brabançonne sounded and the national flag was seen waving from many houses. All in all, sentiments of nationalism definitely played a role in the reception of the expedition.
Read more about this topic: Belgian Antarctic Expedition
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